More modifications to deer hunting regulation proposals

More changes could be in store for Ohio’s deer hunting regulations. The Ohio Department of Natural Resources Division of Wildlife recently modified its 2014-2015 hunting regulation proposals after considering public input and reviewing data. The Division of Wildlife’s proposals were first released in February.

Ohio Farm Bureau has submitted comments on the proposals with support for some of the changes and concerns with others.

The changes to the proposals are:

- Shotguns and pistol cartridge rifles used for deer hunting can’t be loaded with more than three shells in the magazine and chamber combined.

- Trumbull County would have deer bag limits lowered to three deer and Mercer County to two deer.

- The antlerless permit would be removed from Hardin, Knox and Lawrence counties where the bag limit remains three deer.

Ohio Farm Bureau said in a letter to the Division of Wildlife that “antlerless deer permits should be available for use in all counties throughout the hunting season.” OFBF policy supports the notion that hunters should have an incentive to harvest more does.

The Ohio Wildlife Council will vote on the proposals April 9. If approved, the proposals will go before the Joint Committee on Agency Rule Review, which reviews rules from state agencies to make sure they don’t exceed their rule-making authority.